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| Galleries / Museums tips and photos posted by real travelers and Canberra locals. • 95 Photos
• 46 Reviews
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 | Canberra Galleries / Museums Reviews | 1 - 10 of 46 |  |
The National Museum of Australia is a must visit for tourist visiting Canberra. The architecture and design are completely different than any other building you see in Canberra. It was developed as a post-modern structure reflecting the diversity of the Museum's collection. The collections consist of objects representing Australia social history and cultural heritage. The Museum covers broad aspect the history and cultural of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and the European settlement since 1788.
Open daily 9 am to 5pm. General admission is free. Address: Lawson crescent Acton PeninsulaPhone: 1800 026 132 or 02 6208 5000Website: www.nma.gov.au
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If you into history and memorabilia of Australian movies and sound recording (Shine, the Story of Kelly Gang, Murials Wedding), television show (The Sullivan, Mavis Bramston show, Blue Heelers), radio production the National Film & Sound Archive (NFSA) is the place to visit. The archive collects and preserves old and as well new films, videos, audio tapes, wire recording and other historical items such as phonograph cylinders, vintage equipment. It also collects still photos, costumes, posters, cards and many more. One of the big room visitors is able to see and hear clips from films, TV and radio program. On the right side of the entrance it’s a cinema. When I was there they were showing old Australian documentaries. The archive collections are very diverse. They have material from 1890 to present. The NFSA collections are reflections of Australian creativity and historical values. Its worth visiting. The good part is it's free.
The courtyard cafe and shop are open to the public Monday to Sunday.
Weekdays: 9am to 5pm
Weekends: 10am to 5pm Address: McCoy circuit Acton ACT 2601Phone: 02 6248 2000Directions: Near Australian University (ANU)Website: www.nfsa.afc.gov.au
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I would highly recommend that this should be the starting point for even a hasty visit to Canberra. The free display (much is interactive and multi-lingual) presents interesting exhibits giving the history of Canberra and its design concept, so this will help considerably to explain Canberra's background and to place in context what you see on your visit.
The large model of central Canberra, shown in photo 2 should be very helpful for people trying to get their bearings, as the panoramic windows allow the actual buildings to be seen and a moving spotlight with voiceover explains details. On our most recent visit we arrived just as a short video was being shown in the theatrette, (photo 3) and found ourselves surrounded by rapt schoolchildren.
There is also a gift shop and cafe at the display, which is open 0900-1700 except Christmas Day.
When you leave, take a stroll in the adjacent Commonwealth Park. Various events are staged here, and by the lakeside you will find a large globe commemorating the voyages of Captain Cook (photo 4). If it is working when you visit (usually about lunch time) the Captain Cook Fountain also is a significant landmark (photo 5). Address: Barrine Dve, in Commonwealth ParkPhone: (02) 6257 1068Directions: Turn left from the slip lane immediately before crossing the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge as you head from the city toward Parliament House . Then continue left to the car park on the rise.Website: www.nationalcapital.gov.au
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If you happen to be in Canberra go and visit the Canberra Museum and Gallery. The gallery is Canberra centre for understanding the region’s social history. It is supported by permanent collection of visual arts and preserving documentations reflecting the community heritage of the past, present and future. The gallery offer range of exhibitions, community programs and events to the general public.
Summer
Tue-Fri: 10am - 5pm
Sat-Sun: 12 - 5pm
Winter
Tue-Fri: 10am - 5pm
Sat-Sun: 12 - 4pm
Conjunction Gallery: Nolan Gallery, Lanyon, Mugga-Mugga, Calthorpes' House
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Hey you Art Lover put your lights on and visit the Australian National Art Gallery.
There are sculptures outside and inside the building. Outside before the entrance you will see numbers of large pears. This was the work of George Baldesin who lived in Australia for a while. He was born in Italy and had worked and lived in France, Italy, United Kingdom and Brazil (see photo).
Inside the gallery there are many permanent paintings, ranging from Aboriginal paintings to those by Australian artists such as Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan and Arthur Stretton, also from UK, Europe and other countries' paintings such as the famous Blue Pole. In the collections there are prints, drawings, photographs, ceramics, silverware, furniture, fashion, textiles.
The Australian National Gallery hold many touring exhibitions the latest one is ‘Turner to Monet exhibition’ 14th of March to 9th of June 2008. kim and I went to the exhibition. The theme was landscape. We saw great paintings from artist such as Cezanne , Monet with his famous Waterlilies, Van Gogh, Stretton, Turner, Seurat, Constable, Glover, Roberts, Signac, Gauguin and others. There is charge of 20 AUD.
Open daily 10am–5pm CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY
No charge for the permanent collection. Address: Parkes Place, Parkes ACT 2600Phone: +61 2 6240 6411Directions: Next door to the High Court not far from the old Parliament House.Website: www.nga.gov.au
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THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA is most defiinitely that as I've described it above.
I've been here 3 times now. This first time in 2002 when as Principal of Coopernook Public School 3 of us Staff member & 19 parents brought 62 Kindergarten to Year 7 students to Canberra on a 5 day stay. Since then I have visited it twice, both times this year. The first time with my girls while my wife was working for a day in Canberra & then just recently we all visited on our way back from skiing a couple of hours south of Canberra.
It's a great museum with something of interest for all the family. For all of us "Kidspace" was a lot of fun. Here we had out photos taken then used computers to build some component of the city of the future & then saw our efforts, along with others who were in the same session, in a 3D demonstration where we went into a theatre & donned special 3D glasses to view these. Likewise we all enjoyed exploring the "cubbyhouses" that in many respects meant more to my wife & I than it did to our girls who loved in nonetheless.
But my favourite part of this Award Winning Museum is the "Eternity Exhibition" - which is the
"personal stories of 50 ordinary and extraordinary Australians. The exhibition is a glimpse into Australia's past, present and future through the lives, emotions and experiences of its people." That piece of text is taken straight from their website & describes what it is about better than I can.
For all this & much more you pay the princely sum of absolutely nothing to get in & enjoy this marvellous museum. Yes, entry is FREE! Leave a Comment
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Sitting in the Parliamentary Triangle, almost alongside the High Court and the lake, the National Gallery of Australia is another winner of a design contest. Although the styling of the building does not excite me, it must be said that it functions well as a gallery with its large purpose-designed spaces on three levels.
Unlike most overseas galleries, entry is free to the normal displays, though there are charges for temporary special displays ($20A for the excellent display on Egyptian Antiquities from the Louvre collection). The focus of the normal displays is on modern art, Australian indigenous art, and Asian Art, with some other Australian art also on display. Personally, much is not to my taste, but you may find it’s just your ticket! By far the most famous work is Blue Poles by Jackson Pollock. Don’t miss the outdoor scupture garden, or the great views over the lake from the windows of the licensed café.
Also unlike many overseas galleries, photography is forbidden. It is claimed this is because of Copyright Law … maybe someone needs to talk to the Learned Judges in the nearby High Court!
Open daily 1000 – 1700 (closed Christmas Day) Café (licensed) 1000 -1600
Main photo: the gallery’s form and prime position near the lake shows up well from the hot air balloon
Second photo: the front façade, showing the entry area
Third photo: south wall of the building, with poster on the Egyptian display.
Fourth photo: brochure for Egyptian Antiquities special display. Address: Parkes Place, Parkes ACT 2600Phone: (02) 6240 6502Directions: Lakeside in front of Old Parliament House: the Gallery is just east of the High Court.Website: www.nga.gov.au/
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There are other things that stand out in Canberra, notably Parliament House, the National Library and the Telstra Tower atop a nearby hill and affording the best views of Canberra while standing on a building.
Possibly the most memorable way to view the town would be to get aboard one of the many balloons that fly every morning (seven when I was last there), weather permitting. If you are an early riser and have a camera I recommend you get lakeside just after sunrise and, again weather permitting, you should get some great shots of coloured balloons over Canberra reflected in the water.
Parliament House (surely the only one in the world covered by a lawn) is worthy of some time. The tour is informative and an insight into where some of my taxes went!
At nighttime, should you be crossing the main bridge over Lake Burley Griffin, you will see this colourful edifice, the new Australian National Museum, whose architecture defies description. Frankly, I think it looks great at night and downright ugly in the day. Leave a Comment
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"There are no dusty cabinets or fading exhibits at this innovative museum new technology and hands-on interactive exhibitions present the social history of Australia and its people."
Thus goes the blurb and it's fairly accurate, these particular exhibits are in the Torres Strait Islands and northern Australia section that rather obviously stresses the indigenous population. Leave a Comment
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The NMA is Canberra's newest and most controversial attraction, so as I entered I was wondering what I'd find. At the main reception counter (entry is free) a very pleasant lady asked if I’d visited before. I found that all the staff I encountered were particularly friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. Armed with her advice on the suggested sequence for visiting, I headed off inside. I’d recommend getting this briefing, because the display areas free flow from one to another and not necessarily in the suggested visiting sequence. At the least, be sure to pick up a free “Museum Map” at the entrance. I should add that there are guided tours at 1100 and 1330 Mondays and Fridays, and at 1030, 1200 and 1330 on weekends.
My conclusions after a 3.5 hour visit? Yes, it’s very different from any museum I’ve previously visited, as much as anything because (skipping the official “mission statement” type words) it is essentially a museum of the sociology of Australia, with only a passing nod to science and technology, the usual mainstays of museums. It’s quite enjoyable, sometimes quirky, sometimes irreverent. If you’re looking intently (I don’t want to say ‘critically’, because I don’t wish to imply ”with a view to criticism”) you’ll soon identify some of the common themes and find yourself looking for your areas of interest – I know I did. As I left, I found myself analysing my reactions for quite some time.
To summarise the result, I'd say it’s a valiant effort which could never entirely satisfy everyone. I felt that some areas had been given scant coverage, with nothing at all on other issues and topics I’d like to have seen: on the other hand, the favoured themes are obvious (sometimes laboured) from the moment you enter the display halls. But everyone would have their own personal interpretations of “what they shoulda done”! Go along with an open mind: I think that, whatever your conclusions, you’ll find it an engrossing visit. Open 0900 – 1700 daily (closed Christmas Day). Address: Lawson Cres, Acton Peninsula CanberraPhone: Ph 1800 026 132 (free)Directions: Head west on Parkes Way from Commonwealth Ave, then take the signposted exit to the left.Website: www.nma.gov.au Other Contact: information@nma.gov.au
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